Hydrofracking Not Sexy Enough for Politics

Those subject to the hydrofracking process will have (has had) the same plight as the BP oil spill workers. Mysterious illness has been shown in those workers, and just one year since that disaster. It has been glossed over by great public relations, just as the gas fracking industry has also ignored their responsibility to homeowners they have contaiminated.

Hydrofracking victims and BP Oil spill wokers have some of the same symptoms, while other symptoms differ. The spill that happened one year ago in April, which took months to resolve included: capping the well, the dispersants, the fires and then the clean up, which exposed workers. The homeowners that were (and still are) exposed to the hydrofracking process live, breathe, drink and shower in their homes everyday with contaminated water, the venting of fumes, and ground level ozone. In both disasters, respiratory problems, headaches, and dizziness. are like symptoms.

PAHs or polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
Another similarity between fracking and the BP oil spill is the pollutants that cause genetic mutations and cancer caused by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, or PAHs, and that exposure has effected both groups of people in both situations. Wilma Subra, an environmental scientist with degrees in both microbiology and chemistry has been interviewed more than once in reference to the BP Oil spill, and interviewed with respects to the hydraulic fracturing process. She has spoken about the PAHs for both situations.

Benzene
There are many chemicals that contribute to toxicity, and Benzene is one of them. Environmental toxicologist Bernard Goldstein said, "Benzene, a known carcinogen disappears from a person's blood within four months," when speaking in relation to the BP oil spill. That is why he felt that the US government's method is flawed for collecting health data on those workers. I suppose because the government has decided (without any knowledge) to exhalt themselves as an authority on the subject, that when they do not see Benzene in the blood, it must surely mean one has not been exposed. Benzene has also been a toxin in the case of hydrofracking, which is why I am pointing it out; again there are similarities.

Additional health risks with toxic exposure

• bone marrow problems


• red blood cell problems


• effects on embryos


• brain tumors and lesions


• loss of taste and smell


• pain throughout the body

The problems above have already been reported and in some cases will later be reported. Some of those symptoms have already reared their ugly heads for those living in or near the area where hydrofracking occurs. Their claims and others yet to be reported have been substantiated by toxic chemical reports over the years, many of which Dr. Theo Colborn is all too familiar with and has spoken about openly.

Colborn has many college degrees including: a Ph.D. in Zoology; with minors in epidemiology, toxicology, and water chemistry; a M.A. in Science; (fresh-water ecology); and a B.S. in Pharmacy. She has served on many advisory panels, has lectured and published numerous works and she too has been vocal on the dangers of hydrofracking. She has also been featured in documentaries such as: "The 11th Hour"; "Plastic Planet"; and "Gasland". She is the President of TEDX which has studied industrially-produced chemicals that interfere with development and function, called endocrine disruptors which effect human health. On one page of the endocrine disruption website, there is specifically a page devoted to "Chemicals in Natural Gas Operations." (see that link left)

Yet, with these experts and others, still no one listens, particularly Dan Boren of Oklahoma who was part of the Commitee on Energy and Natural Resources at a legislative hearing on gas hydrofracking. A couple of years ago he was caught on film expressing he was personally in favor of the hydrofracking process because it created a lot of jobs for his state. Then he added, (paraphrasing) people don't know what they are talking about; they don't know the facts. Hhmm? I suppose the experts, similar to those above were all wrong, and got their degrees from a box of CrackerJack, but he (Boren) without any of those degrees must have superior knowledge to them all. Note to Mr. Boren: since you do not have the knowledge to debate, you have no ground to argue on the basis of knowing nothing. I find it ironic that after he said that a few years back, here we are again discussing the effects of toxic chemicals on human health.

For those of you who may have missed the article that ran on Yahoo news originally on May 17th 2011, titled "Mysterious Illness Plagues Louisiana Oil Crews", which since has been removed from yahoo, know that I found yet another hosted news source for the article. The same article on BP oil crew cleanup illnesses is similar to hydrofracking and found here at this link.

Article is original
Copyrighted

First may I say that if you have not read the older original article, you may want to view the bottom of the page to catch yourself up to speed on the subject.

The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) at first dismissed this as fodder and not worthy of their attention, but after the outpouring of articles written and videos posted to YouTube they thought perhaps they needed to take another look at the issue. They did, but with no new outcome. The EPA has in their infinite wisdom decided not to release the results of the final study until 2012. We will discuss these results from another source, which is further down the page.

The Federal government and its agenices who have refused to share this with the American people brings to mind another deep secret. After President Kennedy's assassination in the 60's, the Warren Commission report was supposed to withhold those findings until 2039, but the Freedom Of Information Act that came along much latter made it possible ro release the findings. However with that being said, still only 98% is available to the public with the remainder to be released in 2017. Why are Americans NOT allowed to know? Oh yeah now I remember, feed them and keep them in the dark. Obama's slogan of transparency and how the American people will not have information withheld from them is a crock of bull.



Not only are we not allowed to know, but they have not done anything about it. Policies are not implemented, changes for the betterment of people are ignored, and mostly listening to complaints or proof is rebuked.

Since there truly is a provision for sole source aquifers, at the very least the Federal government should enforce that component and also ammend the Act to include provisions for well water, because it TOO is well owners' sole source of water. They have still yet to do that and have simply ignored their responsibilities. I suppose the contamination of land, air, and water by hydrofracking is not sexy enough for politicians and businessmen, but I am sure the money associated with it is sexy. I wonder how sexy they find that disturbing picture above of a man whose water is flammable. Is that sexy enough to wash your dishes in, or bathe with, or to make your morning coffee?

They are either liars who don't care OR don't know how to do their job, and I think it's a little of both. The EPA is not qualified, most of Congress has done little, the Obama Administration is inept, and the NAR are mere bystanders. With that being said, I do not want to make this any more about dirty politics than it already is, but instead about activism, and what CAN still be done. The government at the state level however can take back their own control. This is a call for the states to step up and take action.

Article is original - copyright retained
Photos this section: "Gasland" media kit

On similar issues, California rallied to defeat Prop 23 on their November 2010 ballot initiative so that corporate polluters are not welcome in their state. The state of New York has been very politically active with their pro-active stance against the dirty hydrofracking process. Awareness has been raised by many organizations, but state governments are forgetting, or perhaps ignoring some very simple stuff that they could do. In America, action can be taken at the state level instead of relying on federal bureaucrats, or fatcats that I like to call "federal bureaufats". Other countries abroad can simply learn from mistakes the U.S. has made. The old saying is true - that a smart man learns from his mistakes and a brilliant man learns from others.

Photo: SamH - GNU Free License

WHAT CAN BE DONE: Take a clue from New York

1.) Moratoriums, New regulations, and No permits
Earlier this year, it became known to me that New York State had a defacto moratorium on these practices for more than 2 1/2 years. They are in the process of adopting new regulations on gas shale drilling, and until that time will not kill the ban on drilling. There are no federal permits needed, so the state of New York does not have to issue any, so they don't.

2.) State does not rely on Fed and does own testing
New York does not sit around and wait for water testers to show up, or for the EPA to review information, or for federal laws to change. They have undergone their own testing, and Toxics Targeting reviewed approximately 300,000 spills, many of which were associated with gas drilling and oil drilling, and The State Department of Conservation is on board right there with them.

3) Making information available - a public service
Another thing being done in New York is making information available for potential property owners to check for hidden environmental hazzards before buying (includes maps and site profiles). See links section.

OTHER THINGS THAT CAN BE DONE:

4.) Real Estate laws must change in regards to leasing land
In some states the Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (RLTA) is very strict, and in other states they need to be more strict. In one state in particular, the laws governing landlords are so tight that they must even disclose a mold problem and if the mold is a harmful species, then the owner must remedy the situation. Even if this is not written into the lease, the landlord must take these necessary actions, for the tenant is protected under the RLTA governed by state code.

Similarly tenants are held responsible to landlords for damages. Additionally there is almost always a clause in the lease that defines the use, occupancy, and maintenance of the premises by the tenant, and their responsibility of preservation of the health and safety of such premises. Of course these terms are for residential leases and not corporate leases for commercial purposes. However, with that being said, it seems to me that if you can make someone accountable for mold remediation under a residential lease, you should surely be able to hold someone accountable for contaminating your drinking water.

The point is ... the states in America should make their laws governing corporate leases more stringent. There are real estate lobbyists that push for change, like REPAC (Real Estate Political Action Commitee), but quite often I do not think the NAR (National Association of Realtors) itself does quite enough in this matter. They should because they collect dues from every Realtor and they should do something to earn it. Another point of interest is that although Realtors must pay dues at the local, state and national levels, the association actually protects the public or should, because it was designed for public protection in mind, not Realtor protection, yet most associations have done nothing.

Again perhaps states can get involved and take this to their Association of Realtors at the state level, which of course would probably have to be put forth to the General Assembly of that state, but it's better than waiting on "National" anything TO DO anything.

5.) Continue being Champions of the Cause
Quarantining cattle - action was taken to quarantine and also a writer informed the public about it, and both are for public good. Pennsylvania's Cattle Quarantine at this link.

GASLAND
"Gasland" was the original documentary on the subject and it and director Josh Fox are champions who brought this to light. For those of you who live in an area where your cable TV channels have not aired the program, Gasland will probably be showing in your country soon via public screenings at: universities; opera houses; playhouses; and centers for the performing arts. In fact, it is playing at just about any place with 4 walls, a ceiling, and floor that will agree to run Mr. Fox's Gasland. What started out as a documentary in the United States on television has been taken to the road and shown around the globe. This hydrofracking process is not just specific to America, and so when your country offers to show it, do so. This compelling story is a must see. Edit: Other countries slated for drilling OR who are already in the initial phases of testing are listed in the older original article seen below.

Article is original - copyright retained

Cheers and Jeers

Kudos to New York, the most active state in our union on this issue.
Kudos to Josh Fox for bringing awareness via "Gasland."
BOOoo to governments that do nothing.

This is becomming an international issue. In the United States, companies put stockholders over safety and the federal government puts profit over people and ignores the policies THEY wrote. The citizens are just casualties. This environmental issue has been ignored time and time again, while the government looks the other way, and in some cases helps make it easier for the dirty business of hydraulic fracturing.

"The Safe Drinking Water Act sets maximums on contamination levels for pollutants present in drinking water, but does not regulate drilling per se. There is however, a provision for protecting sole source aquifers."

Some say BIG gas and oil companies were exempt from "The Safe Drinking Water Act", while others say it was never part of the Act. The answer is no and no.

How can it be NO for both? Walter Hang of "Toxics Targeting" explains that this law, as he says, "has a component that is not being enforced and the implementation is bad."

Yet over 3.3 million Long Islanders (NY) get their water from aquifers.

Photo credit orig by TX sharon Photobucket

Many saw T. Boone Pickens on TV touting the benefits of using natural gas and moving away from other sources like dirty coal for a cleaner burning fuel. Pickens wasn't the only one pushing for this, just the most visible and appeared to be the most vocal. Americans bought into the idea and felt relieved that we may be able to solve our own problems and stop relying on expensive foreign oil in the middle east. We were led to believe and wanted to believe that natural gas was indeed a greener energy. Then the public found out about hydrofracking and how it was being done, and the damage it caused, but it was too late.

Photo credit arimoore Flicker

Hydraulic fracturing, also known as hydrofracking, a.k.a. fraking or fracking is a process of extracting natural gas in gas shale deposits, and at some point drilling horizontally instead of vertically while using sand, chemicals and copious amounts of water. Water does not sound like a problem, but what about the chemicals involved in the process? Are they safe and what are they used for? There are all kinds of chemicals used like fracking fluid, lubricants, drilling muds and others that are part of the many stages in the process with several pieces of equipment such as injection wells, condensate tanks, brine tanks, compressor stations, heater treaters, evaporation sprayers and the like.

One report states there are 260 chemicals, but finds nothing deemed damaging, while another report finds the count to be 596 chemicals of which many are damaging. Xylene and carbon disulfide (neurotoxicants), and naphthalene (a blood poison), are part of the cocktail. The picture below identifies bags of chemicals at a U.S. site in Wise County in the Fort Worth Basin including barite and another chemical with the words "caustic". Does that sound safe to you?

Photo credit orig by TX sharon Photobucket

So how does the cocktail of water and chemicals effect us, or does it? The hydrofracking process causes a seismic-like activity, breaking up the rock and opening up many veins in the earth, thus releasing the gas. The sand keeps those veins open and the chemicals that are used in the process leech into the ground. In some of the earlier stages of the process, individuals can see almost immediate changes in their well water ranging from murky to brown in color due to contamination, and other problems that have occurred later such as fires of the erected gas rigs or other equipment.

Evacuations have taken place too and explosions of water wells. Norma Fiorentino's well exploded causing much damage and since then, the methane gas vent still exists on her property, just feet away from her house. To put the contaminated water into perspective, people in these effected areas can light their water on fire. Jim Hoffer of WABC-TV New York, New York's channel 7 did an investigative report November 2009 on this dangerous drilling process. Hoffer's investigation shows the destruction from Fiorentino's well explosion and another homeowner (1 of many) whose water is flammable, which he demonstrates in front of the camera. EDIT: New clip loaded. The address keeps changing when it gets pushed further back on older pages that have been archived but I found it again. You may reach the video clip by clicking here for the ABC News investigation video or if that does not work try copying and pasting the URL into your browser which is http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/story?section=news/investigators&id=7135129. NOTE: Click on the start button in the middle of the video, NOT the button on the left near the scroll bar.

In addition to the above problems, humans have developed a host of health problems and even their pets are losing their fur, dying, or loosing weight with cows sometimes loosing as much as 100 pounds. The water is not the only thing unclean, for the air is polluted as well with compressor stations emitting known human carcinogens, such as benzene, which we've heard about so much already with respects to the BP Oil spill in the Gulf. The pollution from this complex process of fracking leaves a blanket of dark cloud material over homes that last for hours each day. And yet in America, the natural gas companies are exempt or appear to be exempt from the bills enacted into law by President Nixon in 1972, but not by his doing, but by the past administration, which we will disucss further in Part 2 below. These laws include: The Clean Air Act; The Clean Water Act; The Safe Drinking Water Act; The Superfund Act and many others. If the air is not being polluted, then what do you see coming from that picture below? Is that energy green?



Some may think, 'oh that really doesn't effect me here where I live'. But doesn't it? If farmers who raise cattle have their animals slaughtered to become hamburgers or steaks, then what do you think you will be eating? Some may say, 'but I don't have well water, so my water can't become contaminated'. Is that true? If you receive public utilities from your city, county or other local government and your water is supplied by reservoirs and lakes, then yes, your water too can become contaminated.

Some believe that it is few and far between and doesn't happen much. But does it? In the United States, 34 of the 50 states are using this hydrofracking process, as well as Canada's Lambton and Kent counties, which are part of Ontario, and the area of Port Elgin. There are additional potential sites in Quebec, Nova Scotia, Saskatchewan, Alberta and New Brunswick with the last being very promising. There has been much talk about the Marcellus shale in America, but that is not the only gas shale formation there. Gas shale locations include: the Barnett shale; the Utica shale making its way to Canada via New York state; the Middle Ordovician Collingwood shale; (along with overlapping Utica in Michigan state that also makes its way to Canada), the Antrim shale; and many others.

Photo credit orig government then on Wikipedia - now public domain

Skaane in Southern Sweden has been drilled late last year using the hydrofracking process and currently, gas companies are analyzing the data, which may take a year. North western Germany's Lower Saxony Basin is just one place in Germany where gas shale formations are being drilled, along with England's Weald Basin 20 km from Guilford and the Bowland shale, which is a few miles from Blackpool in Lancashire. Denmark, France and South Africa are also slated to be drilled and are in negotiations now with gas companies. Does this sound like an isolated area to you? Take a look at the map above that showcases just those shale gas plays in the United States that are rampant. Does this make you uncomfortable? It should.

The Deepwater Horizon spill otherwise known as the BP Gulf spill has already occurred, but we did not learn any lesson from that. In reference to the hydrofracking mess, advice was given to write to your congressman (at both the house and the senate) if you lived in the United States. Sadly little has been done. Many people still do not know of the dangers of hydrofracking, OR others simply did not take the time to write their congressman AND when they did, Congress was ... well - absent. You can learn more about the hydrofracking process by watching the documentary originally known as "Water Under Attack", but that is now called "Gasland" by writer, director and co-producer Josh Fox.

In the United States, the documentary initially aired on the HBO channels from late June through July 29 2010. For those that didn't have or do not have the HBO channels, it was also made available as video on demand (or VOD) through cable TV and FiOS for free through September 6th. It was slated to re-run sporadically throughout the next six months. EDIT: Since that time the documentary movie re-ran on cable television; FiOS Tv (a fiber optic service) and satellite TV with air dates in February and March 2011. Since then, countries all over have shown this documentary such as but not limited to: Canada's "Royal Cinema in Toronto"; the United Kingdom; and Australia. This is an older article, and after this publish date, there have been many additional screenings. (see other sections of webpage for screenings under "Updates on Drilling Documentaries)

Article is my own work
Copyright retained

Recent News on Fracking:

UPDATE 1: Near Blackpool, drilling was delayed, then resumed, then stops again. The original article "England's Blackpool Delays Gas Drilling" (has since been removed from the web) was about how the U.K. felt that the dangers of hydrofracking needed to be accessed, but later renegs on this. They went ahead with drilling even though there were (according to that previous article) fears that they would have the same plight as the Americans. Here's another article about how Europe scrambles for gas, but sees hydraulic fracturing as controversial. The Ecologist, which is part of the Guardian reports on this as seen here at this URL. Click here for U.K's environmental news from "The Ecologist" on controversial fracking.

UPDATE #2: France keeps fracking ban in place (Oct 4th 2011) as they had been the 1st country to previously ban fracking earlier June 30 2011.

UPDATE #3: 2nd incident near Blackpool, and government officials meet with drillers. Fracking did cause Fylde coast earthquakes based on drill site near Singleton reports the Gazette mid October 2011. There had been previous tremors felt earlier in the year Apr 1 and May 27th due to fracking and yet fracking continued, but government says wants to see changes.

UPDATE #4: 2nd European country bans fracking. Bulgaria bans gas and oil drilling from shale deposits. Jan 18 2012

UPDATES are newest to oldest

UPDATE 4: Gasland's screenings are back in the United States through mid April 2012. The last U.K. screening was in November 2011 at City Screen Picturehouse York (in London), but the U.K. can still schedule screenings at the link I am providing. The same link has U.S. screenings listed with specific locations and dates. Copy and paste the URL address into your browser seen here at http://www.facebook.com/gaslandmovie?sk=app_4949752878 and click on the tab "U.S. screenings."

UPDATE 3: There are currently no screenings scheduled for Splite Estate documentary, and the last one was in May 2011. You may however, still watch the movie trailer on their website found in the links section.

Update 2: Although "Gasland" was nominated as best documentary for the 2011 Oscar awards, it did not win that February and probably due to the gas industry who campaigned to discredit the anti-drilling film and even sent a letter to the Academy of Motion Pictures arguing that it should be ineligible. The Academy however, did not pull "Gasland" from the ballot, but I'm sure the voters were influenced just the same. That's politics again. "Gasland" still made a splash the previous fall when it won at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival.

Update 1: And if your country is still not showing it OR you have missed the time slots, the DVD is available. (this page)